Dave Kolb Grading is the only contractor I have ever seen with those type of tire. They are regular tractor tires with some type of wrap around metal track that looks just like an oversize crawler track, I'm assuming for extra traction.
Lots of bloody good reading here alright. I`ve a question for the Wheel tractor and scoop (pan) drivers on here. Can you lead your self in when cutting batters or making a road around a hill with these like you can with a conventional motoscraper or bulldozer and scoop ? or do you need a blade machine to set it all up and keep it in shape ?
Awesome thread guys, I'm one of those guys that enjoys the fact scrapers are the "money makers" but hate fricking operating them. In fact running older TS-14s I used to daydream a system where I could hang bananas from the levers and train a monkey to run it for me:beatsme. Hehe I'm not downgrading scraper operators just hated the beasts. I wonder if the tractor pans bring in a different style of worker as a operator? Does anyone have first hand experience of seeing the difference of a tractor pan crew and a scraper crew?
A Scraper, (tractor pan or otherwise) should be able to cut in their own slope "to a degree" of course. The pull types can get on/across a steeper slope than their self propelled counterparts, but the idea is the same. Make a few passes up towards the top of the slope (batter) to get a slot started, then move half a width or so "down hill" so one side is in your slot and the other is on virgin ground, and start cutting the slope down. Eventually you should be able to make a flat spot to work the whole remaining cut down.
If it's too steep to go across and you have the room up top and at the bottom you can try working down the slope too. Probably in all cases though you'll need a blade to fine tune the slope in the end or (if it's already too steep) to pioneer a bench for you to start at.
Course if original grade is flat it is just that much easier, cause you can work the slope like a normal cut just pulling a little further in (away from the batter) every time you get lower.
Hope that makes sense or helps:drinkup
My point...don't discount scraper tractor's value just because you have chip on your shoulder about what is happening locally in your area.
A skilled operator can build an inside corner of a 3:1 with a 627 before the machine starts getting light on one side. Then one tire pretty much just spins freely untill you lock her in and go. Takes some guts to do it though. I've seen 2 627 roll on a 3:1. Tractor pans can't even sit on a 3:1